Musical Theatre Repertoire List

Theatre majors who register for voice lessons are required to perform a vocal jury at the end of each semester of voice lesson registration. Theatre students should prepare a set of 2-3 pieces from which the vocal jury will choose one. Students will receive written feedback from the vocal faculty on their performance based on regular jury criteria. The theatre department has created a list of repertoire that every aspiring singing actor should have in his or her audition binder. Selections for musical theatre juries should fall into one of these categories, with an eye toward filling in any notable gaps in the student's repertoire.

Professor Jared Larkin's Audition Portfolio List

1 operatic aria or classical art song

1 Viennese operetta song (in English)

1 Gilbert & Sullivan song

1 early musical comedy "Tin Pan Alley" song

1 novelty comedy song from the early 20th century

2 pre-1940s musical comedy songs (ballad and up-tempo)

2 Golden Age songs (ballad and up-tempo)

5 Top 40 tunes (at least one from each of the following categories:

1940s World War II era (e.g., Swinging on a Star, My Way, Over Here!)

1950s pre-rock era (e.g., Forever Plaid, The Taffetas)

1960s early rock-n-roll (e.g., Grease, Leader of the Pack, Hairspray)

1960-70s pop rock (e.g., Mamma Mia, The Full Monty)

Country Western (e.g., Big River, Footloose, Urban Cowboy)

1 Sondheim song

1 rock musical song

2 1960s show tunes (ballad and up-tempo)

2 contemporary musical theatre songs (ballad and up-tempo)

1 Disney or film tune

1 contemporary art song

Find the "money" cut (a.k.a., the 16- or 32-bar cut that shows what the singer can do)

Preparation is Everything

Each song should be ready in full-length, 16 bar, and 32 bar versions, and in keys that suit your voice (this may require having several versions of the same song).

The cutting should be marked with the introduction, cuts, and the proper ending so clearly laid out that anyone (who can play the piano) could play it correctly on the first try.

Music should be photocopied and double-sided. Make sure no edges of the staff or the accompaniment is cut off.

Make sure your name is on each piece of music in case it accidentally gets left behind.

Musical Theatre Repertoire List

Theatre majors who register for voice lessons are required to perform a vocal jury at the end of each semester of voice lesson registration. Theatre students should prepare a set of 2-3 pieces from which the vocal jury will choose one. Students will receive written feedback from the vocal faculty on their performance based on regular jury criteria. The theatre department has created a list of repertoire that every aspiring singing actor should have in his or her audition binder. Selections for musical theatre juries should fall into one of these categories, with an eye toward filling in any notable gaps in the student's repertoire.

Professor Jared Larkin's Audition Portfolio List

1 operatic aria or classical art song

1 Viennese operetta song (in English)

1 Gilbert & Sullivan song

1 early musical comedy "Tin Pan Alley" song

1 novelty comedy song from the early 20th century

2 pre-1940s musical comedy songs (ballad and up-tempo)

2 Golden Age songs (ballad and up-tempo)

5 Top 40 tunes (at least one from each of the following categories:

1940s World War II era (e.g., Swinging on a Star, My Way, Over Here!)

1950s pre-rock era (e.g., Forever Plaid, The Taffetas)

1960s early rock-n-roll (e.g., Grease, Leader of the Pack, Hairspray)

1960-70s pop rock (e.g., Mamma Mia, The Full Monty)

Country Western (e.g., Big River, Footloose, Urban Cowboy)

1 Sondheim song

1 rock musical song

2 1960s show tunes (ballad and up-tempo)

2 contemporary musical theatre songs (ballad and up-tempo)

1 Disney or film tune

1 contemporary art song

Find the "money" cut (a.k.a., the 16- or 32-bar cut that shows what the singer can do)

Preparation is Everything

Each song should be ready in full-length, 16 bar, and 32 bar versions, and in keys that suit your voice (this may require having several versions of the same song).

The cutting should be marked with the introduction, cuts, and the proper ending so clearly laid out that anyone (who can play the piano) could play it correctly on the first try.

Music should be photocopied and double-sided. Make sure no edges of the staff or the accompaniment is cut off.

Make sure your name is on each piece of music in case it accidentally gets left behind.